Warp Zoned Presents
Author: Brittney Williams
New I Am Setsuna trailer released today ahead of Switch’s March 3 launch
Today, Square Enix released a new trailer for the upcoming Switch launch of I Am Setsuna.
I Am Setsuna is a JRPG that was inspired by the genre’s 90s-era classics, such as Chrono Trigger. As you can see in the “Accolades Trailer” embedded above, the game was positively received by critics and gamers alike, with both praising it for its atmospheric soundtrack, old school style, and dramatic storytelling.
I Am Setsuna tells the tale of a young lady named… you guessed it, Setsuna. Her journey is one of sacrifice for the sake of others, and we mean that literally. Setsuna has been charged with the burdensome task of delivering herself over to be a ceremonial human sacrifice in order to appease a violent fiend who has oppressed her people for decades. The game also features character customization, a complex combat system that incorporates the use of tech combos, and an in-game strategy guide called the Snow Chronicles.
Currently, I Am Setsuna is available for download on the PlayStation 4 and Steam. The game is also available for the PS Vita in Japan, but its portable counterpart never made it to North America because developer Tokyo RPG Factory wanted to target the larger audience available on the PS4 and PC.
I Am Setsuna will also be available to download through the Nintendo Switch’s eShop on March 3, the same day that Nintendo’s next console will be released to the masses. If you’re a fan of classic-style JRPG titles, and you’re going to pick up a Switch in just a little more than two weeks, then it should probably be on your radar.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged I Am Setsuna
Is Nintendo Marketing the Switch to the Wrong Audience?
The Nintendo Switch releases on March 3rd, less than three weeks from now. There’s hype, speculation, premature predictions of the console’s failure, and tons of confirmed launch games lists floating around. However, that’s not what’s concerning me most right now. I’m concerned about Nintendo’s marketing.
What’s wrong with Nintendo’s marketing, you might ask? Take a look at their first official trailer below, and then come back to me. Are you done…? Good. Now let me pose a question. Did you see any children in that trailer, any at all? No, you didn’t? Neither did I. But, I’ll tell you what I did see. I saw a bunch of millennials joyously playing with their shiny new Nintendo Switch consoles in the most unrealistic settings.
Now, of courses, this is just one trailer. If you’ve seen the Nintendo Switch Super Bowl commercial, then you’re aware that there were a few kids sprinkled throughout that one. But I digress. There are way too many millennials in sight. (more…)
Nier: Automata transports us to the future with a new trailer
Androids, swords, mech-suits, and platinum blonde hair abound in the latest Nier: Automata trailer.
The latest trailer for the PlatinumGames-developed RPG takes us to a post-apocalyptic, war-torn setting, in the extremely distant year of 11945 AD. 2B and 9S, members of an elite android squad, are tasked with saving the human race, and they’re fighting against the likes of other androids, titan-sized robots, and a host of other enemies during the 14th Machine War.
Nier: Automata is a sequel to 2010’s Nier, which was itself a somewhat polarizing spinoff of the Drakengard series. But if you’re unfamiliar with the action RPG, Square Enix is here to help with a quick primer of the game’s plot:
Invaders from another world attack without warning, unleashing their secret weapon: the machines. In the face of this insurmountable threat, the human race is driven from the earth and takes refuge on the moon.
The humans develop an army of android soldiers to fight back against the mechanical horde, but succeed only in slowing its advance. To break the deadlock, a new breed of android infantry is sent into the fray: the YoRHa squad.
In the forsaken wasteland below, the war between the machines and the androids rages on. A war that is soon to unveil the long-forgotten truth of this world…
Fans who have been anxiously awaiting Nier: Automata’s North American release for PlayStation 4 and Steam on March 7 can download and play a demo of the game right now. And for those of us who haven’t been eagerly awaiting for the latest arrival in the Nier franchise, the demo is still worth checking out. You never know, you might actually find that you like it.
All that being said, after seeing the above trailer (and a brand new 25-minute walkthrough from the PlayStation Blog, which is available after the break), it’s pretty clear that Nier: Automata is one to add to your wishlist. I mean, who doesn’t love swords and mech-suits? (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS4
Tagged Nier: Automata
Microids will release Syberia 3 on April 25 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Mac
Spring is looking rather chilly and it has nothing to do with global warming! Today, Microids dropped a few juicy details, and a new trailer, about the latest entry in the Syberia series, Syberia 3.
First and foremost, fans of the series will be ecstatic to know that Syberia 3 has an official release date of April 20 in Europe, and April 25 in North America. Even better, Syberia 3 will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and even Mac… which is notorious for not having enough games. Syberia 3 will be fully dubbed in five languages; French, English, German, Polish, and Russian. It will also support subtitles for the aforementioned languages plus Spanish, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Czech, simplified Chinese, and traditional Chinese. Talk about accessible.
So what is Syberia 3 about? I’m glad that you asked. According to Microids…
The story begins when Kate is found left for dead on a shore by the Youkol tribe, a nomadic people caring for their snow ostriches during migration. Trapped, prisoners in the city of Valsembor, they will have to find together a way to continue their journey in a chase against their enemies and unexpected challenges. While at the same time, Kate’s past is catching up with her…
To go along with its interesting premise, Microids also found a composer for Syberia 3 that’s likely to produce an amazing soundtrack. Inon Zur, credited for composing the amazing soundtracks for Fallout 4, Dragon Age: Origins, Prince of Persia, and Syberia 2, has also composed the soundtrack for Syberia 3.
Fans have been waiting for Syberia 3 since Microids first announced it all the way back in 2009, so this is great news. However, if you were hoping to learn when Syberia 3 would make its Switch debut, you’ll have to keep waiting. A release date for the game on Nintendo’s upcoming console has yet to be announced.
Gears of War 4 February Update introduces new maps and much more
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and as a result, Gears of War 4 players will be treated to a slew of updates including new maps, Valentine’s Day-themed events, and general game improvements.
The Gears of War 4 Valentine’s Day event officially begins this Friday, February 10, and will last for over a week. The event will include Torque Bow Tag “with a cupid-style twist,” a new collectible Craftable Character, new Gear Packs, and daily bounties with a Valentine’s Day theme.
Also included in the February update are two new maps that veteran Gears of War fans are sure to appreciate! The first new map on the list is “Impact Dark,” an intense new spin on the original “Impact” map. “Impact Dark” takes close combat to thrilling new levels, putting heavy emphasis on visual impairment by implementing a permanently smoke-covered battlefield! Snipers, Torque/EMBAR, and Incendiaries are gone, now replaced with Boltoks, Dropshot, and Overkill respectively, forcing players to stay alert and take risks in order to stay in the game.
The second map provided in the update is “War Machine,” which veteran Gears of War players may remember for its desolate and decrepit atmosphere. The new take on the “War Machine” map brings players to a gorgeous and lively COG settlement in the once abandoned train station. However, aside from the new aesthetic, everything else about the map remains the same. Season Pass holders will be glad to know that they can play both maps today in the Developer Playlist.
The Coalition highlighted a few additional gameplay improvements from the February Update on the game’s official website:
- Added a small delay before being able to fire when Wall Cancelling (now balanced with Wall Bounce firing delay)
- New Guardian Spawn System: Players will now spawn closer to the Leader
- Added IFF Lights onto Dizzy to bring visual readability of his model in-line with all other characters
- Torque Bow now rotates with Sniper every round on Blood Drive
- Resolved an issue that could cause the Kestral to be stuck out of sight on Blood Drive
- Resolved minor geometry on Blood Drive that could block bullets
- Improved messaging for Core/Competitive rejoin when trying to rejoin after rejoin window ends
- Incendiary grenades now kill Down But Not Out players with Execution Rules On
- Previous map high score will now display on end of round scoreboards in Horde
- The Trick Shot ribbon is now correctly awarded in Horde
- The Sniper Strike Horde Skill card no longer counts towards Headshot Bounties
Gears of War 4 is available to purchase now for the PC and Xbox One, and you can get a closer look at both new maps after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, Xbox One
Tagged Gears of War 4
Freedom Planet 2 Hands-On Preview: Not Your Parent’s Platformer
Over the last few days, I’ve had the pleasure of playing around with a demo for Freedom Planet 2, which is in development at GalaxyTrail. The demo itself isn’t that long (one stage with a boss battle), however, the game is just that damn fun that I kept coming back to it, trying to beat my time and experimenting with the four characters in an effort to determine whose move set best fit my play style.
Before playing the Freedom Planet 2 demo, I had never heard of GalaxyTrail or the original Freedom Planet game. Though fascinated by indie developers and the masterpieces that they create, I often shy away from playing them, instead opting for AAA titles. Freedom Planet 2 makes me regret that decision.
It’s hard to gather much from a demo that can be finished in a little over two minutes, however, I have drawn the conclusion that Freedom Planet 2 is definitely not your parent’s platformer. What do I mean by that? Despite its obvious similarities to Sonic the Hedgehog, Freedom Planet 2 sets itself apart from traditional platforming games while still holding on to the charming components that define the genre. (more…)
Posted in PC, Previews, Switch, Top Story
Tagged Freedom Planet 2, PAX South 2017
Women of Color In Video Games: A Much Needed Dialogue
Have you ever heard of the “magical negro” trope? Perhaps you haven’t. How about the one regarding black women being “hypersexual?” No, haven’t heard of that trope either? Well, here’s the thing… you’ve definitely seen it, read it, digested it, but you might not have consciously absorbed it. Don’t feel too bad; most people don’t recognize it, either.
The fact that most people don’t see how offensive the portrayal of black and brown women in video games is, is exactly why commentary on this valid argument is so direly needed. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, Opinions, PC, PS3, PS4, Top Story, Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Resident Evil 5, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Michonne, Tomb Raider
Morrowind is coming to The Elder Scrolls Online in the next expansion
Yes, you read that headline right… Morrowind is coming to The Elder Scrolls Online. Players will return to the island of Vvardenfell in the next expansion, while also exploring a new story arc and character class:
Morrowind is on the verge of destruction and it’s up to you to save it from a deadly Daedric threat. Embark on a dangerous journey through legendary locales, from the volcanic Ashlands to mushroom-filled forests. Dive into the murderous realm of Dunmer house politics and gain the trust of an elite assassin. Experience the beautiful world of Morrowind like never before.
- New ESO Chapter: Return to Morrowind and begin an epic story arc in an all-new adventure
- New Class: Harness nature-based magic to master a powerful new character class — The Warden
- New Game Mode: Take the battle to the Ashlands and fight to the death in Battlegrounds, an all-new 4v4v4 PvP mode set in competitive arena-style environments
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is considered by some to be the best entry in the franchise. With its dark, gritty backdrop and the complex mechanics, why wouldn’t people love Morrowind? However, it’s been nearly 15 years since Morrowind first made its way to the PC and the original Xbox, and since then, the only dedicated Morrowind experience that fans have had was confined to an Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim expansion, Dragonborn, back in 2012. Fans have been begging for a return to Morrowind, and as Bethesda Softworks usually does, they’ve delivered.
So, how does this work? Current ESO players can add the Morrowind expansion to their current copy of The Elder Scrolls Online for $39.99, while newbies to the ESO universe can purchase the Standard Edition (which also includes the original game) for $59.99, or pick up the awesome Collector’s Edition (Digital: $79.99, Physical: $99.99). Both Collectors Editions will feature several in-game items including an Armored War Horse, Dwarven Spider Pet, Morag Tong Armor Converter, Gray War Bear, and Character Emotes. But opting for the physical Collector’s Edition will add an exclusive game case, map of Morrowind, Dwarven Colossus Statue, and Naryu’s Journal.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind arrives for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on June 6, 2017, but you can pre-order it now, and don’t forget to check out the Announcement Trailer above.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged The Elder Scrolls Online